Orion still has it have a pet and I think Winnie Ward is the favored one at present but do not think he has forgotten his little Emma for he often speaks of her and wishes he could see her. But I forgot and wrote little Emma when this is her fifteenth birthday and she is nearly a woman. Indeed Emma I do not like to think of you and my brother Fletchie growing older and larger but wish you could always be children. But such things are not according to nature and we must all grow old ere long.
I have written you no news as yet, but there is but little of interest. It has been raining almost every day for two or three weeks though we have occasional glimpses of sunshine. One week ago today there was a camp meeting in progress at Polk City some fifteen or more miles from DesMoines and though the morning was cloudy and foreboding we were foolish enough to go. The consequences were a dull, rainy day, and an unpleasant ride.